<p><meta name="uuid" content="uuidbPl9aQqdOS6n" /><meta charset="utf-8" /></p>

<p>Colombian President Gustavo Petro on Saturday (September 9) proposed an alliance between Latin American countries to bring a unified voice to the fight against drug trafficking. According to a report by the news agency Reuters, President Petro closed the Latin America and Caribbean Conference on Drugs by saying that over five decades of a failed war on drugs resulted in immeasurable bloodshed and pain across Latin America.</p>

<p>"It is time to rebuild hope and not repeat the bloody and ferocious wars, the ill-named 'war on drugs', viewing drugs as a military problem and not as a health problem for society," Petro said during the press conference. In a joint statement, the countries participating in the conference said the demand for illicit drugs must be reduced by educating the public and combating inequality, poverty, lack of opportunities, and violence.</p>

<h2><strong>Anti-drug strategy should be reconsidered: Petro</strong></h2>

<p>The Colombian president also pushed for the reconsideration of an anti-drug strategy and urged for the need for a unified voice "that defends our society, our future and our history and stops repeating a failed discourse."</p>

<p>Colombia, which saw an unprecedented surge in violence years ago from drug trafficking during Pablo Escobar's reign, still faces persistent violence from current drug cartels with growing firepower and economic might.</p>

<p>In December last year, the Colombian government agreed on a ceasefire with the country's main drug cartel Gulf Clan as part of President Petro's plan for total peace in the country.&nbsp;</p>

<p>However, the ceasefire was suspended in March with Petro accusing the Gulf Clan of "sowing anxiety and terror." The president ordered security forces to reactivate their military operations against the cartel.&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>Mexico urges Latin America to support US' fight against Fentanyl</strong></h2>

<p>Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, who was a part of Saturday's conference, said that Latin American countries needed to support the United States in its fight against Fentanyl.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Watch | Fentanyl overdose crisis in USA: An American drug epidemic | Dark World</strong></p>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/fentanyl-overdose-crisis-in-usa-an-american-drug-epidemic-dark-world-592058/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>
</div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

<p>“More than a pandemic, we must participate in the fight against fentanyl use in the United States. What they are facing is a pandemic, it is not just a quantitative issue. 100,000 young people lose their lives every year due to fentanyl use. To turn our back and say 'We don't care.' We have to deal with that problem,” President Obrador said&nbsp;</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>

<p><strong>WATCH WION LIVE HERE</strong></p>

<p><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" loading="”lazy”" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed?autoplay=1&amp;mute=1" width="100%"></iframe></p>

<p>You can <strong>now write for wionews.com</strong> and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us <strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/content-contribution-registration-form">here</a>.</strong></p>


Colombian President Gustavo Petro on Saturday (September 9) proposed an alliance between Latin American countries to bring a unified voice to the fight against drug trafficking.

Colombian President Gustavo Petro on Saturday (September 9) proposed an alliance between Latin American countries to bring a unified voice to the fight against drug trafficking. According to a report by the news agency Reuters, President Petro closed the Latin America and Caribbean Conference on Drugs by saying that over five decades of a failed war on drugs resulted in immeasurable bloodshed and pain across Latin America. "It is time to rebuild hope and not repeat the bloody and ferocious wars, the ill-named 'war on drugs', viewing drugs as a military problem and not as a health problem for society," Petro said during the press conference. In a joint statement, the countries participating in the conference said the demand for illicit drugs must be reduced by educating the public and combating inequality, poverty, lack of opportunities, and violence. Anti-drug strategy should be reconsidered: Petro The Colombian president also pushed for the reconsideration of an anti-drug strategy and urged for the need for a unified voice "that defends our society, our future and our history and stops repeating a failed discourse." Colombia, which saw an unprecedented surge in violence years ago from drug trafficking during Pablo Escobar's reign, still faces persistent violence from current drug cartels with growing firepower and economic might. In December last year, the Colombian government agreed on a ceasefire with the country's main drug cartel Gulf Clan as part of President Petro's plan for total peace in the country. However, the ceasefire was suspended in March with Petro accusing the Gulf Clan of "sowing anxiety and terror." The president ordered security forces to reactivate their military operations against the cartel. Mexico urges Latin America to support US' fight against Fentanyl Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, who was a part of Saturday's conference, said that Latin American countries needed to support the United States in its fight against Fentanyl. Watch | Fentanyl overdose crisis in USA: An American drug epidemic | Dark World × “More than a pandemic, we must participate in the fight against fentanyl use in the United States. What they are facing is a pandemic, it is not just a quantitative issue. 100,000 young people lose their lives every year due to fentanyl use. To turn our back and say 'We don't care.' We have to deal with that problem,” President Obrador said (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Colombian President Petro proposes Latin American alliance to combat drug trafficking

colombia-war-on-drugs

Colombia War On Drugs, News on Colombia War On Drugs, stories on Colombia War On Drugs, articles on Colombia War On Drugs, Colombia War On Drugs stories at Wion, Colombia War On Drugs news, Colombia War On Drugs latest news

colombia war-on-drugs

Colombian President Petro proposes Latin American alliance to combat drug trafficking